• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Do family members hate your hobby? Or embrace it?

thedelihaus

thedelihaus

Nocturnal transmissions
I'm wondering, how many of you are lucky to have family folk who enjoy your hobby, embrace it?

How many of you have family who dislikes it? If so, is it justified?

:thumbsdn: I was asked tonight by a family member to get rid of all my speakers, except a pair. I wrote a long, sobering rant about this, but decided not to post it yet. They are not in this person's way, nor will they be, unless this person is in my apartment. It was a very hurtful request that was delivered via another family member. the person who requested it couldn't look me in the eyes to ask, and had someone else do it. This from a person I've done lots for, and made some severe sacrifices for. And because I'm in a bad way, health-wise. Ouch. :tears:

Oh, don't get your hopes up- I'm not planning to get rid of 'em, despite this cruel request.

:thmbsp: My brother-in-law loves it. But as he's married, he's not permitted to indulge :no: . I did manage to sneak him some JBLs and a Pioneer receiver, however. He deserves it. He's an ace of a fella.

:thumbsdn: My sister is less fond of it. She's a good sister, but not a fan. Less room in the house for, ugh, seriously, Beanie babies. The JBLs I gave my brother in law are relegated to the top of the TV stand, about 7 feet off the ground, and about 2 1/2 feet apart- not ideal placement. He's been permitted to take them down when she's at work. :tongue: I gave her an iPod, hoping it would keep harmony in their household. It is small, after all.

:thmbsp: My neice loves my hobby, as long as I don't turn it up too loud. I don't play it loud often anyhoo. Loves the sound. Loves the music. Loves poking in the dustcaps :yikes: :nono: ! She's 5 1/2. My birthday's coming up in 2 weeks. She asked me if I want a cake that looks like Gene Simmons, or a cake that looks like a pair of speakers. She's a keeper. She may get some Advents for Christmas this year. :yes:

I think, if one's hobby isn't negatively affecting another person, so be it. If you're into classic cars, matchbooks, Coca-cola tins, gem sweaters, Hummels, so be it. If it makes you happy, then that's just more joy in the world, no?

I could see if one was to keep the house littered with gear, or if every room in the house was impossible to move around in, due to the collection.

Or if family was neglected, in order to make it to the thrifts. Not wise to leave junior at the soccer feild at 9:30 pm because of an orphan Mach 1, only to make him then walk home, because there's no room in the pickup now, and no way is the Mach going to ride in the back.

Also, when the anniversary is spent at Wendy's, because it's "fancier" than Mcdonalds, and the bonus was spent on a pair of Advent Utilities.

Or if bills are being missed, and your wife can't watch the new episode of "Desperate Housewives" or "Lost", because cable has been shut off. Why? Because you needed that broken 1280 with the chipped veneer, cracked glass, scratched aluminum face, missing knobs and a dead left channel.

Worse yet, when the wife's in labor but you can't miss the Thorens on ebay. Then you name your kid "McIntosh".

But if not, so what. Keep yourself happy,and hopefully the folks around you that you touch will be happy too.
 
Register to hide this ad
My family DESPISES my hobbies, & are generally rather vocal about it. When Lauriann & I first decided to get hitched, the 1st thing my mom said was, "Well, I hope you make him get rid of all those old radios & TVs..." My dad is less blatant about it, but there's always a "smart" comment to be slung in my direction. But NOTHING I've ever done in my life has pleased my dad anyway, so why should this be any different...?
 
My family loves music but hates all the crap I've accumulated that relates to it.

To keep the peace I am getting rid of 75% of it.
 
When I can get her to listen to it, she likes it. When I sell something for more than I paid for it - she loves it.
 
I only have 1 system and it causes no problem. When I had several peices of gear, none of my family ever said anything about it, which surprises me. One day (after 15 years of gathering vintage audio) I got to looking around at all of the stuff I had accumulated and realized it actually complicated my life. I sold or gave away my stuff and got 1 awesome (to my ears) system and I don't miss the clutter. It has simplified my life and causes less stress.
 
thedelihaus said:
I'm wondering, how many of you are lucky to have family folk who enjoy your hobby, embrace it?

How many of you have family who dislikes it? If so, is it justified?

:thumbsdn: I was asked tonight by a family member to get rid of all my speakers, except a pair. ..................
Click to expand...

I think I'd feel the same way if my wife asked to get rid of things. I hope the family member's feelings soon pass, and you can get onto to what you like to do.

How many speakers do you have? I'm back up to 10 pairs after getting down to 6 a few months ago. A pair of JBL L26s fell in my lap (needing a woofer!), and a pair of Genesis IIs in real oak - how can one refuse?
 
As long as I meet the budget, and keep a clear path through the "junk room", I'm cool. When I flip something for a profit, I'm golden!
 
My 17 year old son loves it, my daughter likes to hear it but tells me when it is getting out of control, and my wife thinks it's funny and calls it my " mid life audio crisis". There are a lot worse things. My whole main system costs less than a tuner I recently sold and that paid for the whole thing.
 
My family's all for it. It brings music and relaxation into the house. The only extra crap that I'm not using is a Technics SA-222 receiver:yuck: and a JVC CD player of mid-80's vintage that worked when I last tried it. They're in the basement, so out of sight, out of mind.
Tom
 
Well, My son's in the Navy buying up CD's and laptops as fast as he seams to be able, He has never seen my setup except in photo's

My Daughter is married and not around much so it doesn't have any effect on her life.

That leaves my wife a very tolerant woman without doubt. If I keep my hobbies contained within my Shop, Office, and those small nitches in the Living room allowed she is pretty cool with it. She really enjoys the music even helping me sample albums to decide what stays and what goes. Though it does seam like she says "GOODWILL" most of the time when asked to rate and album LOL.

I don't blame her we are in the middle of residing the house there is a huge amount of work to be done before the weather hits. And Saturday I brought home over 1000 albums with no place to put them. So there are four boxes of albums in the carport (her side) five boxes in her way in the Pantry (seriously not part of my allowed area) And I didn't get **** done over a full weekend on the house. So right now I would say barely tolerating.

BUT then she put up with me bring home 3800 model airplane magazines one time. The Chevelle I have been working on since 1996, the 67 mustang that I never seem to get ready to sell, the 48 Willys that is completely torn apart in my side of the carport that really needs to get finished. The 40 different cameras the 60 enses a whole cabinet in the pantry full of camera bags, The office full of flying model airplanes, The SHop full of tools, and and and OH yea the four stacks of vintage gear I'm not actually using.

Damn I think I need to go buy some flowers !
 
I just the eyeroll from my daughters and my wife. My wife has her own (more expensive than mine) hobby, so she doesn't give me a hard time at all. Well, other than when I bring home more speakers.

Other than one small system in my den, everything's downstairs in the mancave, so that's ok.

The rest of the family, i.e. in-laws, etc., think it's fine.
 
Mum thinks it's all crap. Nice looking, some of the vintage gear. But generally speaking, it's all "old crap". She prefers new black plastic recievers with LCD and remote controls. :no: And, yeah, she needs buttons. :puke:

My father likes my gear. He thinks it sounds great and looks great. He's a man. Sure he loves it! :) :music:

And...my girlfriend...she says it's nice. Maybe she's not sure if she would still be my girlfriend if she told me she doesn't like it. :D No, I'm just kidding - I think she really likes it. :yes:
 
My mother, aunt and my father were over to see our new addition last christmas, and both my mother and aunt were rather unabashed about getting rid of those "monstrosities" (speakers). Needless to say I said nothing, but in my mind I was thinking "guess what? It's NOT your home, bite me!" My wife has come to accept it as its pretty much the only thing around the house thats mine.
Deli, it's your home, your life, and no one needs to tell you sh*t! But be friendly while telling them. :D
 
My kids were raised around vintage audio gear, so they are all about vintage audio sound, particularly my son. The girls like the sound and the gear is just a means to get it. I've given all three respectable starter systems, but my son who is a budding musician, certainly cares more about speakers and TTs than the others.

Given that I have a Whole Bunch of auto/racing books and magazines, my audio addiction seems more under control. When money comes in from selling something audio, my wife is more tolerant of all the gear -- just keep it out of her hobby areas. Plus, I've hauled her baby grand piano around for almost 30 years of marriage, so what's a few speakers?

I am a mere dabbler about collecting stuff (books) compared to her late father, who had over 5000, so the bar is rather high for me to reach to go over.
 
I’m still living with my parents, and with housing prices here that probably isn’t going to change for a while :(

My main music system is in my bedroom, and I mainly play it loud when I am home alone. I spend more time worrying about disturbing the neighbors than I do anyone else in my home – but then again it’s hard to disturb them when they aren’t there. Extra gear usually ends up stacked in my room, and while it does make things cluttered as long as it’s in my room and not the living room no one really cares.

The 2nd system we have, the Home Theater, the only component in the entire setup that isn’t mine is the HDTV. They use it quite often and I don’t think any of them would prefer to just use the built-in TV speakers instead.

Actually my chief reason for not moving out is the fact that all I would be able to afford is a small apartment (still $1200+/month), and that would basically be the end of my audio hobby. In that sense, the fact that I’m still living here, my family has taken “understanding” of the hobby to a new level :)
 
I've been accumalating vintage stuff for really only a short time. My wife although very supportive of my hobby is talking about putting a spending limit on the things we both collect. I don't have a problem with that as it will make me more selective. I tend to buy stuff just to have it. The up side is I'm pretty cheap so most everything I've come to acquire has been reasonable. The kids love this stuff. Especially now that I've started putting systems in their rooms. If I'm going to blast the speakers however I have to do it in the basement as we've got frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles. I guess the vibration makes them agitated. All in all I'd say I was a very lucky man to have such an understanding family.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom